This developmental project was designed to solve the conflict between the Center for Teacher Education at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo and the local public school districts regarding the placement of education students in public school classrooms for field work activities. The conflict arose when one major school…

In a unique class of combined elementary and secondary teacher education majors, this triangulated qualitative study investigated how cooperative structures affect student attitudes and motivation. In particular, the study examined students' preferences for instruction, students' attitudes and motivation related to their preference for cooperative…

A curriculum activity was initiated to provide preservice teachers with a personal knowledge base of active research procedures through the use of class-related activities. A research component was included in a required preservice class in assessment. Following the principles of scaffolding theory, students who had studied the elements of…

Two studies of influences on self-regulated performance were conducted. The purpose of the first was to determine if the level of performance of college students would be higher if the allowable length of the assignment was greater or smaller. Subjects were 126 education majors at a large state university participating in an extra-credit program…

Education graduates from the University of Central Florida who received degrees between December, 1980, and August, 1983, participated in this follow-up study evaluating their preparation for teaching. The student teaching experience was rated most highly, as was specialization preparation. Foundation courses were perceived as weaker. Of…

The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationships between personality and motivational variables and music teaching success criteria. The success criteria investigated were class mean residual gain scores of pupils and teacher ratings by pupils, building principals, supervisors, peers, and teachers themselves. The problems considered…

Although blacks in the Southern region made up 19 percent of the 1970 population, only about 11 percent of all bachelor's degrees and 9.6 percent of all master's degrees in the region in 1974 went to blacks. Black representation varies widely among fields of study, ranging at the bachelor's level from 2 percent in architecture to 23 percent in…

This paper reports on attitudes toward welfare and poverty among male and female students at a university in rural eastern Kentucky. The area has high poverty rates and low educational and employment levels, particularly among women. A 60-statement survey covering a wide range of social issues was completed by 390 undergraduates. About two-thirds…

This paper discusses the benefits of mentoring and tutoring for prospective teachers. Section 1 examines the general benefits of mentoring and tutoring for the mentors and tutors. The benefits include greater tolerance and empathy for individuals and groups in society, greater social awareness, better communication skills, greater self-confidence,…

Investigated the effectiveness of exercises designed to promote group cohesiveness, compared to systematic human relations training for preservice teachers. Found the experimental group showed greater posttest scores on empathic responding and attitudes toward students. Suggests group exercises may have affected the participants as they perceived…

Describes the use of portfolio assessment in preservice teacher education, specifically elementary science methods courses. Presents both theoretical and practical considerations relative to ensuring the highest possible levels of validity. Includes a set of practical validation focus questions and comments from student portfolios. Contains 33…

Twenty European American teachers-in-training estimated the grade point averages and IQs of four African American students significantly lower than those of four European American children. In another study, racial attitudes of 58 European American education majors predicted their evaluations of compositions by African American students, Results…

Preservice teachers' beliefs and knowledge about educational equity and their experiences with equal education were studied with 992 education majors at four colleges. Results show that preservice teachers are no more accepting of diversity than is the general population. (SLD)

Analysis of written assignments and course and advising discussions with 182 undergraduate special education majors found that 75% of the students expressed at least one of seven beliefs considered detrimental to inclusive school practices. Teacher education programs are urged to seek antidotes to these beliefs. (Author/DB)

Examines the effects of job and organization attributes, applicant characteristics, and recruiter characteristics on job applicant attraction to an elementary school teaching position. Forty-eight university education majors (24 with teaching experience and 24 without prior teaching experience) role played the part of job applicant for an…